Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Clinton Campaign Hurts Obama, Helps McCain
Is there something in the water in Arkansas that inspires political individualism over party positioning? Both Republicans and Democrats can lay claim to a presidential candidate who refused to bow out of the contest when the writing on the wall had each respective party’s nominating contest effectively locked up. For the Republicans, it was former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, accompanied by campaign spokesperson Chuck Norris, staying in the race with John McCain, as Huckabee put it, to give voters a choice. Now Hillary Clinton, with her own Arkansas ties, does the same for voters at odds with Barack Obama: Racking up the protest vote of fellow Democrats unwilling to concede the race to the candidate who is one or two steps away from representing the party this fall. And now Clinton supporters are accusing that likely nominee of not caring about two states that will be crucial this year.
With Huckabee, it was annoying. Republicans who wanted to get behind McCain and prepare for the general election watched as the conservative protest vote let McCain know he had work to do to shore up his party’s base. But Huckabee was not nearly the opponent that Clinton is to Obama. Huckabee emerged from being an unknown to being best descibed as a likably entertaining fella who doesn’t believe in evolution. Great on late night TV, but not ready for prime time. Fortunately for Republicans, the Democrats have duplicated the feat. And now with Clinton, it’s not annoying so much as it is dangerous. Clinton’s appeal to Democrats is far greater than Huckabee’s hold on Republicans, and for good reason. The Clinton brand…
